ACWELL
Licorice pH Balancing Advance Serum 30ml
Licorice root water is the first ingredient in this 30 ml ACWELL serum, ahead of water, with Niacinamide eighth and Glutathione, Adenosine and Beta-Glucan behind it. A tone focused middle step for dullness and uneven patches. Korean-market formula.
No reviews yet30 ml
$141.67 per 100 ml
- Korean-market formula
- Ships from California or direct from Korea
- Korean barcode and batch code intact
- Suited to
- Congested skinUneven textureDehydrated skinSensitive skin
- Helps with
- Shoppers looking for Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract in a serumRoutines that want Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract and Niacinamide in one stepFilling the serum step with a Korean-market formulaAnyone who wants the Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract serum sold on Korean shelves
In stock. Arrives in 3 to 7 business days
We accept
You’re $100.00 away from free US shipping.
- 30-day returns
- Free US shipping on orders of $100 or more
- Tracked delivery to your door
How it works
The Licorice pH Balancing Advance Serum is a 30ml serum, used after toner and before moisturizer, morning and evening. The plant extract it is built around is Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, named thirty-first on its own ingredient list. The same list carries Niacinamide, Adenosine and Tocopherol, so the plant extract is not the only thing on it worth naming. How much of the Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract stays on the skin, and for how long, is decided by the serum format rather than by the list alone. This is the Original Korean Formula, the serum ACWELL sells in Korea, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract and all.
Key benefits
- Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, the plant extract this serum is built around
- Niacinamide and Adenosine on the same list, actives
- Tocopherol and Glutathione on the same list, antioxidants
- Beta-Glucan and Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract further down the same list
- Cynara Scolymus (Artichoke) Leaf Extract and Pteris Multifida Extract further down the same list
- Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract named thirty-first on the manufacturer list printed on this page
How to use
- Press two to three drops into clean, slightly damp skin after your toner, letting it absorb before your moisturizer.
Where does this serum go in my routine?
After toner and before moisturizer, morning and evening. Anything thinner than a serum goes on before it, and anything richer goes on after. If you are adding it to a routine you already like, give it a week on its own first, so what you see is the Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract and not three changes at once.
Is this the Korean-market serum or a US version?
The Korean-market one, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract and all. We match this serum to its Korean barcode before it reaches the shelf, which is the check that tells you which market release you are holding.
What else is on the list besides Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract?
Niacinamide, Adenosine and Tocopherol. The order they are printed in on this serum's panel is the order on the box, so you can see where Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract sits relative to them. Further down the same panel: Glutathione, Beta-Glucan and Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract.
Not on the ingredient list below: fragrance or parfum, denatured or SD alcohol, essential oils, silicones, parabens, sulfate surfactants, mineral oil or petrolatum and added color.
Full INCI (35): Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Water, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Polyglycerin-3, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Water, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Carbomer, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Tromethamine, Polyquaternium-51, Sodium Hyaluronate, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Beta-Glucan, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cynara Scolymus (Artichoke) Leaf Extract, Pteris Multifida Extract, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis (Licorice) Root Extract, Tocopherol, Solanum Melongena (Eggplant) Fruit Extract, Glutathione, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract
Ingredient list read from incidecoder.com on 10 September 2026.
34 of 35 explained
- Methylpropanediol humectant
- Methylpropanediol is a small glycol used to hydrate and to help water-soluble actives penetrate the outer layer of skin more evenly. It leaves almost no tack, which suits watery textures.
- Glycerin humectant
- Glycerin is the most used humectant in skincare. It draws water into the outer layer of skin and holds it there, and it is one of the very few ingredients whose hydrating effect is settled science rather than marketing. Higher amounts feel tacky, which is why it is usually blended.
- 1,2-Hexanediol humectant
- 1,2-Hexanediol is a glycol used for two reasons: it holds water like glycerin, and it makes a formula harder for microbes to live in, so less traditional preservative is needed. Korean formulas use it heavily for that second reason.
- Butylene Glycol humectant
- Butylene Glycol is a small glycol that does two jobs at once: it holds water in the top layer of skin and it dissolves plant extracts and actives that plain water cannot. It also thins a formula, which is why watery Korean essences lean on it.
- Polyglycerin-3 humectant
- Polyglycerin-3 is a short chain of glycerin units used as a gentler, less sticky humectant. It also helps oils and water stay blended.
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride emollient
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is the light fraction of coconut oil, with the heavy parts removed. It is the workhorse emollient of modern formulas: it softens skin, dissolves oil-soluble actives and absorbs without the greasy weight of a whole plant oil.
- Niacinamide active
- Niacinamide is vitamin B3, and it is the most studied active in Korean formulation. It is used at roughly 2 to 5 percent for the look of uneven tone and visible pores, and it is water soluble, stable and comfortable beside almost every other active, which is why it turns up in so many lists.
- Propylheptyl Caprylate emollient
- A branched ester with a notably dry, silky slip. It is one of the standard silicone replacements when a formula needs a non-greasy finish.
- Water solvent
- Water is the base almost every serum, toner and cream is built on. It dissolves the water-loving ingredients and sets how light the finished texture feels. On an INCI list it is usually first, which only means it is the largest single ingredient by weight.
- Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer thickener
- This is a synthetic thickener that gels quickly and holds an emulsion stable across a wide pH range. It gives a light, non-tacky body.
- Xanthan Gum thickener
- Xanthan Gum is a polysaccharide made by fermenting sugar. It thickens a watery formula into a gel and holds the whole thing in suspension so nothing separates. Too much of it and a serum turns stringy, which is why it appears in fractions of a percent.
- Sodium Citrate pH adjuster
- Sodium Citrate is the salt of citric acid, used as a buffer: it holds a formula at a steady pH rather than pushing it in one direction. It is also a mild chelator.
22 more explained
- Ethylhexylglycerin preservative booster
- Ethylhexylglycerin softens skin and boosts a preservative system, which is why it is nearly always sitting beside phenoxyethanol or 1,2-hexanediol. It also cuts down the odour bacteria produce, so it turns up in deodorising products.
- Citric Acid pH adjuster
- Citric Acid is used in tiny amounts to bring a formula to the pH its actives need, not as an exfoliant at that level. It is an AHA, so at much higher concentrations it can also exfoliate.
- Carbomer thickener
- Carbomer is a synthetic polymer that only gels once a base neutralises it, which is why arginine or tromethamine sits nearby on the list. It gives the clear, non-stringy gel texture a xanthan formula cannot reach.
- Glyceryl Polymethacrylate film former
- Glyceryl Polymethacrylate is a polymer that forms a smooth, water-holding film and gives a formula a cushioned, non-sticky feel.
- Disodium EDTA chelator
- EDTA is a chelator: it locks up trace metal ions from water and packaging that would otherwise turn a formula cloudy, off-colour or rancid. It does nothing to skin and appears at a fraction of a percent.
- Adenosine active
- Adenosine is a nucleoside that Korea's own cosmetic authority recognises as a wrinkle-care functional ingredient, which is why it appears on so many Korean lists at a low level. It is used for the look of fine lines and is stable and well tolerated.
- Tromethamine pH adjuster
- Tromethamine neutralises acidic thickeners such as carbomer so they gel, and holds a formula near skin-friendly pH. It is used at a fraction of a percent.
- Polyquaternium-51 film former
- Polyquaternium-51 is a polymer, sometimes sold as Lipidure, built on the same phosphorylcholine structure as a cell membrane. It holds water in a film on the surface and gives a distinctive soft, dry finish.
- Sodium Hyaluronate humectant
- Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt of hyaluronic acid, and it is what most products labelled hyaluronic actually contain. The salt dissolves more readily and the molecule is smaller, so it sits in the outer layer of skin rather than only on top of it.
- Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract plant extract
- Oat Kernel Extract carries beta-glucan and avenanthramides, and it is one of the most reliably tolerated ingredients in skincare. It is used for the look of reddened, itchy-feeling skin.
- Beta-Glucan polysaccharide
- Beta-Glucan is a polysaccharide from oats or yeast. It holds a large amount of water, forms a soothing film, and is one of the ingredients formulators reach for in products aimed at reactive skin.
- Hydrogenated Lecithin emulsifier
- Hydrogenated Lecithin is lecithin with its unsaturated bonds filled in, which makes it far more stable. It emulsifies and is the standard shell for the liposomes that carry actives into the outer layer of skin.
- Cynara Scolymus (Artichoke) Leaf Extract plant extract
- Artichoke Leaf Extract carries cynaropicrin and other plant antioxidants. It is used in formulas aimed at the look of visible pores and dullness.
- Pteris Multifida Extract plant extract
- Spider brake fern extract, a traditional East Asian herbal plant. It is used as a conditioning extract.
- Dextrin thickener
- Dextrin is a starch fragment used to thicken and to give a formula a light, powdery finish. It is also a common carrier for powdered extracts.
- Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Extract plant extract
- Cocoa Extract carries polyphenols and a little caffeine. It is used as an antioxidant plant extract and gives a faint warm tint.
- Dipropylene Glycol humectant
- Dipropylene Glycol is a glycol used as a solvent and a light humectant. Its main job is keeping the rest of the formula dissolved and the texture fluid rather than adding hydration of its own.
- Glycyrrhiza Uralensis (Licorice) Root Extract plant extract
- Licorice Root Extract carries glabridin and liquiritin. It is one of the classic plant ingredients used for the look of uneven tone and redness, and it appears in almost every brightening formula that avoids synthetic actives.
- Tocopherol antioxidant
- Tocopherol is vitamin E. It is an oil-soluble antioxidant that protects the oils in a formula from going rancid and works on skin as an emollient, and it is regularly paired with vitamin C because each keeps the other going for longer.
- Solanum Melongena (Eggplant) Fruit Extract plant extract
- Eggplant Fruit Extract carries nasunin, the antioxidant pigment in aubergine skin. It is used as an antioxidant plant extract.
- Glutathione antioxidant
- Glutathione is a small peptide the body uses as one of its main antioxidants. In skincare it is used as an antioxidant and for the look of dullness; it is unstable in water, so formulas that carry it are usually built around protecting it.
- Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract plant extract
- Maritime pine bark extract, the source of the proanthocyanidins sold under the pine bark name. It is used as a plant antioxidant.
- Market
- Korean market, the version sold in Korea
- EAN (barcode)
- 8809129645596
- Made in
- Republic of Korea
- Volume
- 30 ml
- Category
- Serum & Ampoule
- Actives
- Adenosine, Beta-Glucan, Glutathione, Licorice Root, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate
- Ships from
- California or Korea
Orders ship from California or direct from Korea with tracked delivery to your door, and both routes carry the same Korean-market release. Shipping is free on orders of $100 or more. Returns are accepted for 30 days, by mail.
We split shipments free, so one out-of-stock item never holds up the rest of your order.
Where this unit came from
- 1Seoul
Bought as Korean-market stock - 2Barcode
Listed against the Korean barcode on its box - 3California or Korea
Ships to you from either, as the same Korean-market release
We stock the version of a formula that is sold in Korea, not the release a brand prepares for another market under the same name. The barcode in the specification above is the Korean-market one and it is printed on the box you receive.
Every unit keeps its original barcode and batch code intact, so the unit in your hands can be checked against the brand’s own records.
Every order ships from California or direct from Korea, and returns run for 30 days.
Every claim on this page traces to the unit in the box, the barcode, the batch code and the price you can read for yourself.
Inside the formula
Inside the formula
Worth knowing
- Patch test this serum on a small area and wait a day before using it more widely, especially with Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract on the list.
- Introduce this serum on its own for the first week, so anything your skin does is traceable to the Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract rather than to three changes at once.
Complete the routine
- This itemACWELL Licorice pH Balancing Advance Serum 30ml$42.50

- Seal the routine in as the last stepacwell Aqua Clinity Cream (Original) 50ml$42.50

- Prep after cleansing, before the treatment stepacwell Licorice pH Balancing Essence Mist 100ml$40.00

Total for 3 items$125.00
Reviews
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acwell Licorice pH Balancing Advance Serum 30ml
How it felt, how your skin took it, what you layer it with. Straight answers help the next person choose.
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ACWELL, Korean-market original
The Original Korean Formula serum from ACWELL, 30ml formulated with Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract and Niacinamide, shipped from California or direct from Korea.
Verify your unit when it arrives
Verify your unit when it arrives
Korean-market stock with the original barcode and batch code intact, exactly as it left Korea.
On the unit itself
- The Korean-market barcode, unaltered from the retail package.
- The manufacturer’s batch code, exactly as the maker printed it.
정품Genuine article, Korean-market stock
What professionals say
What professionals say
What skin-care professionals say about skin care, quoted from the medical sources linked beside each.
Your skin barrier is basically your outer layer of the skin.
Melissa Piliang, MDDermatologist, Cleveland Clinic Pretty much every step of a Korean skin care routine is going to have some component of hydration.
Alok Vij, MDDermatologist, Cleveland Clinic
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